American Idol Season 11 - Goodbye Heejun Han

So tonight on Season 11's American Idol we said goodbye to resident funny man, Heejun Han. Last night's performance was solid but apparently not special enough for America to keep him in the race. Here is a video of him singing "A Song For You" by Donny Hathaway:




I feel as though America made the right decision. Although his voice is naturally beautiful, his immaturity and lack of experience could not compare to the many powerhouses that we have this season. Heejun's raw talent, however, is really lovely and with the right coaching and branding, he could actually have a great musical career. More than likely, Heejun will fizzle and become yet another Idol parody such as Sanjaya from Season 6.

Next week the competition will get even tougher as the Top 8 finalists continue to sing for their lives.

Who do you think will go home next?

Recap: Season 11's American Idol Top 9 Performances

This week on Season 11's American Idol, the Top 9 performed under the mentorship of the show's favorite coach Jimmy Iovine and legendary Stevie Nicks. The singers were given a little bit of freedom with their song choices and were asked to sing songs from their favorite idols.

1- Colton Dixon sings "Everything" by Lifehouse - The verses took a little bit too long to build up but when he finally opened up to the chorus his delivery was right on point. Overall, Colton has really great stage presence and emotionally connects to every song he sings. Very consistent, very solid!

2- Skylar Laine sings "Gunpowder and Lead" by Miranda Lambert - Great phrasing, vocal inflections and connection to the storytelling. Skylar is simply just a natural superstar. Her sass, confidence and energy own the stage. I loved the adlib that she gave at the end because it showcased power and range and only hope to hear her show off that part of her voice more!

3- Heejun Han sings "A Song For You" by Leon Russell - What a vast improvement from last week's horrendous performance! His tone is so unique and this song showcased the really cool husky textures in his lower register. I felt like the beginning was really strong but kind of lost his momentum towards the ending. I don't think he deserved a standing ovation from the judges but perhaps its because he set the bar so low for himself last week. Good voice but he is NOT the best singer in this competition.

4- Hollie Cavanagh sings "Jesus Take The Wheel" by Carrie Underwood - First off, Hollie finally pulls off the right outfit and looked phenomenal. Some of the notes in her song were a little bit iffy but I think she pulled it together and gave a touching performance. Her storytelling was on point and by the time she reached the end of the song she really nailed the high notes with conviction, power and control. This girl is a budding powerhouse.


5- DeAndre Brackensick sings "Sometimes I Cry" by Eric Benet - This week DeAndre's stage presence was a lot more tamed. The placement of his voice has improved but he definitely lacked the dynamic contrast that he needs in order to compete with these other singers. During the modulation in the bridge, the notes totally lacked the necessary breath support. He is definitely special but still needs a lot of coaching.

6- Jessica Sanchez sings "Sweet Dreams" by Beyonce - Excellent job climbing up to the climax of the song from the very beginning teasing us with dynamics and vocal control. I agree with Stevie Nicks that the slowing down of the tempo was brilliant; her version of this song turned into a powerful, heartfelt ballad. I also agree with Steve Tyler: this little diva is a star already.

7- Phillip Phillips sings "Still Rainin" by Jonny Lang - This dude might win this competition. He is consistent, solid and truly the whole package. Great song choice, amazing power and overall very strong vocal chops. This was another great performance added to his track record and he's reaching to the top.

8- Joshua Ledet sings "Without You" by Mariah Carey - This was my favorite Joshua performance. He did a wonderful job holding back his powerhouse vocals in the beginning of the song and showcased his chops with a lot more finesse. What incredible emotion! It was visceral. This performance was the only one of the night that deserved the judges' standing ovation!

9- Elise Testone sings "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin - Risky song choice but this chick really rocked it out! Amazing vocal grittiness, power and control. She can be dirty and she can be pretty. Just killer, Elise. Really really great job!

Tonight I felt like the producers did a great job saving the best performances for last. Elise and Joshua completely took their songs to the next level. Elise demonstrated great showmanship and Joshua gave us his entire heart and soul. The mediocrity was sandwiched in the middle and became easily forgettable as the night went on. I also feel like the judges gave standing ovations to the two worst singers in the competition- Heejun and DeAndre. I didn't agree with many of their comments tonight. They need to be more critical as the competition gets stiffer. It would be a shame to sway America's votes from the singers who truly deserve a fair shot at this thing.

This week, I predict DeAndre and Heejun are in trouble. At the top this week is Phillip and Jessica.

What do you think????

The Voice Final Battle Round Performances

This week concluded the last batch of the Battle Rounds on NBC's The Voice.  Coaches Christina Aguilera, Cee-Lo Green, Blake Shelton and Adam Levine paired up singers in their teams to battle against each other to secure the coveted spots for the show's live performances. Yet again, I agreed with 50% of the coaches' decisions:

1- James Massone vs WADE singing Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors"

James has a perfect boy band voice- great tone, great intonation and wonderful potential. He honestly just needs a little bit of training and he'd be a lot better. WADE has more vocal agility-- his tone quality is smooth and velvety with a nice falsetto. Although he took a lot more melodic risks, his pitch fell flat a couple of times. James, however, was very straightforward and delivered a solid albeit basic performance.

• My Choice: WADE - for overall vocal ability and style
• Cee-Lo's Choice: James- better consistency and uniqueness of tone

2- Nicole Gallyon vs Mathai singing "Love Song" by Sara Bareilles 

This battle showcased an obvious winner. Nicole has a beautiful voice and is a very talented pianist. Mathai however is the full package. She has a lot of spunk, character and style. She is a young singer and clearly not as experienced as Nicole, but her natural ability outshone Nicole's cerebral delivery. Also, Nicole needs to learn how to support her high notes a little bit better.

• My Choice: Mathai - curious to see how she will grow
• Adam's Choice: Mathai - stage presence, style and uniqueness

3- The Line vs Moses Stone sing "(Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones

The Line are extremely talented and very marketable. They come across very professional, polished and vocally strong. Moses demonstrated exceptional growth, versatility and swagger. He is truly a wonderful artist. The Line however can very well be the next big thing in country music. Hands down the best performance of the night!

• My Choice: The Line- for their strong vocals and marketability
• Christina's Choice: Moses- for his potential, style and versatility

4- Jordan Rager vs Naia Kete sing "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz

Naia has a cool vibe in her vocal stylings. Jordan is very clean, consistent and kind of stiff. Some of Naia's ornamentations showcased some of her pitch issues and lack of control. Although some of her notes were off, Jordan's solid straightforwardness was kind of boring. This was my least favorite performance of the night.

• My Choice: Naia - I've never seen or heard anything like her!
• Blake's Choice: Naia- for her cool vocal style

5- Orlando Napier vs Karla Davis singing Lionel Richie's "Easy"

Orlando is a clear artist with a distinct vision and style. Karla is an undiscovered gem. Her voice has a lot of character, beauty and flexibility. Orlando's stylings are more developed, his phrasing/adlib is incredible and overall is an excellent vocal artist. Karla however has amazing potential.

• My Choice: Orlando- clearly more professional and very marketable
• Adam's Choice: Karla- curious to see how far she can grow, great voice

6- Justin Hopkins vs Tony Vincent sing "Faithfully" by Journey

During their coaching sessions, I was almost positive that Justin was going to be my favorite. However, Tony's performance really sold it to me. His passion resonated with every single lyric and inflection. Justin's voice has an awesome raw element that is powerful and beautiful. Although Tony is somewhat theatrical, his technique, range and ability are just phenomenal. 

• My Choice: Tony- solid technique and professional delivery
• CeeLo's Choice: Tony- stronger connection to song and performance

This week concluded The Voice's Battle Rounds and next week America will get to watch the finalists in each team compete against one another in a live setting. I wonder how the change in dynamics will affect each singer. One important thing that I learned from tonight's episode is to make each and every single note count. Use every single inflection in your voice to resonate your passion behind every single lyric in the song. 

You never know.. you might just make CeeLo cry. I loved CeeLo tonight- he was such a teddy bear!

Tune in next week for my first vocal review of the season's live performances!

Goodbye Erika Van Pelt! - American Idol Top 10 Elimination

It is rare to find a singer on American Idol that will impress me enough to actually want to go and buy their music... but Erika Van Pelt is actually an artist who I will continue to support after this competition. America definitely got it wrong this week:



Erika looked fierce with her new makeover. The hair was hot, the jacket was ridiculous and the makeup showcased her natural beauty. Her voice has elements of jazz, soul, rnb, pop and even rock. This girl can do it all. A graduate from Berklee School of Music, Erika is not some amateur singer on a reality show, she is a seasoned professional.  Unlike Heejun who feels the need to take his shirt off and DeAndre who frolicked around with his lion mane, Erika just sang...and sang VERY well. Unfortunately, America simply cannot appreciate the subtleties of being a true vocal artist.

Tonight we said goodbye to Erika Van Pelt, but I know that we will be seeing more of her soon. She is much too talented to only have these 15 minutes of fame.

Best of luck to you, Erika!

Season 11's American Idol Top 10 - Performance Recap

Tonight we watched Season 11's American Idols sing through Billy Joel's songbook. The Top 10 honed their performance skills under the mentorship of the show's favorite critic, Jimmy Iovine and hiphop mogul, Diddy.

Tommy Hilfiger also made a guest performance as the show's new Image Specialist. I love that they brought him onboard and agree that when you look great, you feel great and sound great. Here is what I thought of this week's American Idol Top 10 performances:

1- DeAndre Brackensick  sings "Only the Good Die Young" - This performance seemed like a glorified karaoke number. Although the arrangement was somewhat boring, I appreciated the improvements in his stage presence. He appeared a lot less nervous and more laid back. At times his vibrato was slightly overbearing. Overall, I find him to be one of the weakest singers in the competition.

2- Erika Van Pelt sings "New York State of Mind" - Best makeover of the night! Erika has one of my favorite voices. She has soul, depth and delivers beautiful phrasing. She really knows how to hold back and build up when it is appropriate. Her mic technique is that of a true professional. Unfortunately, her polished performance can come across to others as playing it safe. It's going to be difficult for her to compete with the other teen belters in the show if she does not figure out a way to impress the lamen.

3- Joshua Ledet sings "She's Got A Way" - His intro was a little shakey in pitch, but it was nice to hear him sing with dynamics. Before this week, mp-mf were non-existant in his performances.. it was a whole lot of ff and fff going on. I loved the song because it showed great range and control. However, I agreed with J.Lo about him needing to connect more to the lyrics.

4- Skylar Laine sings "Shameless" - There is no doubt that this girl has a great country sound. Sadly, she had a couple of bum notes. In the beginning, it took way too long to build up into her sweet spot. When she opened up, she began to sound better but then came across a little too screamy. I agree with Randy: it was pretty good, but not the best.

5- Elise Testone sings "Vienna" - What a solid intro! She gave us wonderful storytelling, excellent melodic variation and showcased really cool vocal flips in and out of head voice, while teasing us with her growls. She killed that run at the end! Her ending was harmonically difficult and demonstrated serious musical chops.  Elise and Erika are the most sophisticated vocalists in this competition. Finally, maybe someone who is actually seasoned and educated can win this whole thing?

6- Phillip Phillips sings "Movin' Out" - I can really appreciate this dude's authenticity. His artistry is as if Dave Matthews and Adam Duritz had a child. He has a killer time feel and sweet melodic interpretation. Vocally, I would have liked to see him grow, but maybe he doesn't need to. Maybe he can with this whole thing with his cool vocal style and musical arrangements.

7- Hollie Cavanagh sings "Honesty" - This week, Hollie did much better with the dynamic contrast. Sadly, she was consistently sharp on many of her power notes- perhaps due to pushing. She resembles a young Celine Dion, even the diction is very "er." The ending completely lacked the proper breath support in order to execute those runs in her head voice. I usually love her performances, but this week was a miss for me.

8- Heejun Han sings "My Life" - Heejun totally copied Billy Joel's diction during the verses. He fell flat on almost all of his sustained notes. His facial expressions were strange and his stage presence was hokey and uncomfortable. He may think he is funny, but not in a good way. His performance was like a skit off of SNL. Humor will not mask mediocrity. It was simply horrifying.

9- Jessica Sanchez sings "Everybody Has A Dream" - Her voice reminds me of Jennifer Hudson, it has the darkness in her low register and the wide, powerful vibrato during sustained notes. This week she held back in her performance very well, and did not oversing. She showcased excellent range and wrapped us around her little finger yet again. SO good!

10- Colton Dixon sings "Piano Man" - Perfect song choice, excellent vocal delivery. Beautiful yodel and a wonderful buildup into an effective key change. I respect his voice and musicality. My favorite performance of him yet!

Now that American Idol has narrowed it down to their Top 10 favorite singers, its going to get harder and harder for America to vote. For the girls, it's a battle of Teen Belters vs Seasoned Performers. For the boys, its the Rockers vs the Balladeers. In my opinion, Heejun and DeAndre need to go. However, America may not appreciate the sophistication of Erika and Elise and the teen female demographic might prolong the boys' livelihood in this competition.

Who do you think is in trouble this week???

Vocal Review of The Voice - Battle Rounds Week 3

During Week 3 of The Voice's Battle Rounds, the coaches continued to pair interesting combinations of singers from their teams to compete against each other. The singers had a chance to be coached by a plethora of industry professionals and performed to secure their spot onto each team. It looks like this week I agreed with 50% of the coach's selections.

1- Nathan Parrett vs Pip - "You Know I'm No Good" by Amy Winehouse

Pip is very MT (musical theatre). Nathan has a darker, richer sound. Overall, Pip came across more polished and showcased great range. Nathan demonstrated great potential but was not nearly as relaxed.

• My choice: Pip, for having better confidence, ownership and stage presence
• Adam's Choice: Pip, for being more versatile and capable.

2- Erin Martin vs The Shields Brothers sing "What's Love Got To Do With It" by Tina Turner

Erin's voice sounds extremely affected-- I don't believe that is her natural voice and am convinced that she manipulates her sound in order to sound unique. The Shields Brothers are very straightforward but showcased great power and solid harmonies.

• My Choice: The Shields Brothers, for their tight, beautiful harmonies and great energy.
• CeeLo's Choice: Erin, because she's gorgeous, unique and special.

3- Ashley De La Rosa vs Jonathas sing "No Air" by Jordin Sparks

Ashley is fresh and very talented but comes across as screamy when she sings in her higher register. This push in her voice affects her consistency of pitch. Jonathas has a more naturally connected sound. He glides through the melody with more ease and finesse.

• My Choice: Jonathas, because of his smooth delivery and vocal ability
• Christina's Choice: Ashley, because of her youth and potential

4- Jermaine Paul vs Alyx sing "Get Outta My Dreams Get Into The Car"by Billy Ocean

Alyx has a great sound and potential for her age, but lacks strong performance chops and personality. Her tone is rich and powerful. Paul is clearly seasoned, stylistically strong and beautifully confident. 

• My Choice: Jermaine, because he is ready to go.
• Blake: Jermaine, because of his ownership and confidence.

5- Katrina Parker vs Angel Taylor sing "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis

Katrina's voice is strong, soulful and full of depth. Although she comes across as guarded, she has a great sound. Angel has a cool texture to her voice but I also question her vocal technique. She might be affecting her voice as well.

• My choice: Katrina, for her consistent strength and vocal abilities
• Adam's Choice: Katrina, for her power and Adele-like attributes

6- Erin Willett vs Gwen Sebastian sing "We Belong" by Pat Benatar

Gwen has a beautiful seamless sound with great highs and lows. Erin's voice is soulful, powerful and almost like a thick piece of chocolate cake. This battle was the hardest for me to decide because both girls have great voices and did a wonderful job executing their performances.

• My choice: Gwen, for her special sound and authenticity
• Blake's Choice: Erin, for her depth, power and soul.

Tonight's Battle Round Performances shared one common thread: delivery and confidence is key. There are so many beautiful voices in this world, but what truly makes you special? Find your inner confidence and let it shine through your voice. It's okay, be a diva. ;)

What Inspires You? - Um "Momento" da Bebel Gilberto

Sometimes we need to ask ourselves... what inspires us? We all aspire to be bigger and greater than what we are today. Each day is a struggle to move forward in what we hope is a fruitful path. As singers we are artists; we are painting our canvases each and everyday. Sometimes we feel lost, confused and alone. And sometimes we feel enlightened, enthralled and enamored. But what keeps us motivated to grow? What propels our passion? What strings resonate in our hearts?

One singer who completely inspires me is the lovely Bebel Gilberto. 




I will never forget the day I first listened to Bebel sing. Her voice, her phrasing and her passion floated above seductive bossanova beats and enchanting acoustic guitar chords. Her music instantly put me at ease and has continued to be an aural sanctuary for my soul.

Music speaks to the heart in an unspoken way.

What inspires you?

American Idol Season 11 - Goodbye Shannon Magrane

It makes me so sad to see the lovely and talented Shannon Magrane leave Season 11's American Idol competition. Shannon was one of our beloved Dream Ticket Winners and truly such a beautiful, young singer. To be able to sing with that immense amount of power, soul and finesse at only 16 years of age is truly a blessing from God. I wish Shannon the best as she begins this exciting adventure in her life. I am confident that she will have a long, successful career in this industry. She carries herself with grace, poise and dignity.



Last night, Shannon sang a wonderful rendition of Mariah Carey & Boyz 2 Men's "One Sweet Day." It was an extremely difficult song to undertake, but her delivery was strong, passionate and well above her years. Her flaws are minor compared to the maturity and grace that she carries herself with despite her tender age.

Shannon, you will be missed!

Season 11: American Idol Top 12 Finalists Compete

Here is a recap and vocal review of Season 11's American Idol Top 12. Tonight we had the chance to watch our singers perform songs from the year they were born. Some of them were born in the 90s which makes me feel old. This is what I thought:

1- Phllip Phillips - Boring. I know he is sick and all, but I was bored! Sorry!

2- Jessica Sanchez - Terrible song choice, too much vibrato and completely lacked accuracy of syncopated rhythms. She'll stay because she's so good.

3- HeeJun Han - The poor dude has awful diction and the worst microphone technique ever! His personality is cute, but not enough to be an Idol!

4- Elise Testone - Finally, you showed us a soft and vulnerable side. Perfect song choice that showcased wonderful tones and phrasing, but got too loud too soon. Hold back, girl- there's tons of beauty in your voice when you keep it soft and build up slowly.

5- Deandre Brackensick - I felt like I was in the 70's when he started. His phrasing, his facial expressions and even his outfit made the performance so cheesy! He has a great voice but it was cheesy CHEESY!

6- Shannon Magrane - Yes!! You did it, girl! You relaxed, emotionally connected and gave us a great performance! The voice was in control and the dynamic contrast was very effective into building up the song! Wonderful job for proving yourself this week!

7- Colton Dixon - Great voice but also boring! He is going to need to step out of his comfort zone in order to stand out!

8- Erika Van Pelt - Great vocal mix and technique, effective key change and interesting ending! She reminds me of Kelly and could surprisingly win this thing!

9- Skylar Laine - She is such a firecracker - has killer stage presence and style! I can't believe how much potential she has for her age!

10 - Joshua Ledet - I did not like the song choice, but it showcased impeccable range and control. Not sure that it deserved the standing ovation, but strong enough to continue.

11- Hollie Cavanagh - The notes just soared above her so effortlessly. Loved the song choice and the key fit her voice perfectly. She almost didn't get that last note but did a great job closing the show!

Tonight we also witnessed this season's first controversy. I was creeped out by the way the producers decided to address the disqualification of Jermaine Jones. Additionally, I was upset that we were not presented with a Jeremy Rosado comeback performance in its place! What a waste of a spot as I was never a big fan of this "gentle giant."

Looking forward to tomorrow's elimination round. I predict HeeJun and Deandre are in trouble. We shall wait and see... =)

The Voice Battle Performances: Week 2

Tonight I had the pleasure of really dissecting the second week of The Voice's Battle Performances. Singers from each team competed against each other to prove that they were worthy enough to stay. They were given the opportunity to be mentored by some of the music industry's greatest talents, such as Kelly Clarkson, Miranda Lambert, Babyface, Ne-Yo, Jewel, Alanis Morisette, Robin Thicke and Lionel Richie. Two singers from each team were chosen by their respective coaches to prepare a song and "battle" against each other.

As I watched each singer get coached and perform their songs, I realized that I agreed with 2/3 of the decisions that were made by the coaches. This is how it all went down:

Battle #1: Geoff McBride vs Sera Hill from Team Christina sing "Chain of Fools" by Aretha Franklin

Overall, Sera and Geoff are both stellar vocalists. Sera lacked the control and support that Geoff consistently delivered. Geoff overcame the range and style choice of the song and showcased great versatility. However, Sera's style fit this song like a glove; she was able to shine her excellent r&b chops and rifftastic abilities.

• My choice: Geoff- because of overall consistency, ability and power
• Christina's Choice: Sera - because of her marketability and vocal style

Battle #2: Lex Land vs Charlotte Sometimes from Team Blake perform"Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People

Both singers have excellent unique vocal qualities and textures in their voices. They possess a naturally indie kind of sound. Charlotte's voice was slightly affected, in my opinion, with elements of Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. However, her stage presence was really strong. Lex has an unbelievable tone to her lower register; its breathy, sexy and undeniably special. Overall, I felt both singers are on the lower end of talent throughout the entire competition.

• My choice:  Charlotte - because of her level of vocal control and confidence
• Blake's Choice: Charlotte - because of her presence and versatility

Battle #3: Sarah Golden vs Juliet Simms from Team Cee Lo sing "Stay With Me" by Rod Stewart

In this battle round, there was a clear and obvious winner for me. Sarah has a solid acoustic folk singer vibe and really did a great job stretching out of her comfort zone during her performance. Juliet however has an impressive combo of beauty and ugliness in her voice. She can croon and she can growl. Unlike Sarah who is an excellent underground Ani DiFranco type, Juliet is already packaged and ready to go.

• My Choice: Juliet - solid and natural
• Cee-Lo: Juliet - marketability and vocal versatility

Battle #4: Kim Yarbrough vs Whitney Myer from Team Adam sing "No More Drama" by Mary J. Blige

This was a tough battle round because both singers were so strong and so talented. Kim's vocal performance was naturally more intense and showcased more soul, richness and depth. Her years of experience propelled the song's believability. Whitney's voice was solid, unique and demonstrated great potential and range. I was so impressed by her ability to push the envelope in such a short amount of time.

• My Choice: Whitney- her potential, style and ability to grow
• Adam's Choice: Kim- her maturity and extremely high level of talent

Battle #5: Lee Koch vs Lindsey Pavao from Team Christina sing "Heart-Shaped Box" by Nirvana

This was quite possibly the most boring performance of the night. Both singers exposed pitch problems and nervous energy. Lee grew very nicely and opened his voice as the song progressed. Lindsey showed off her lovely seamless connection between registers and chose beautiful alternate melodies. 

• My Choice: Lindsey- most believable and least boring
• Christina's Choice: Lindsey- her unique style and vocal ability

Battle #6: Jamar Rogers vs Jamie Lono sing "I Want To Know What Love Is" by Foreigner

This song showcased an obvious superstar...Jamar. His opening phrase captured me more than anyone else did the entire night. They both blended really well and created a beautiful harmony. Jamie pushed the limits of his vocal abilities and failed to deliver the song as necessary; his style is adorable and slightly kitschy. Jamar was simply believable and visceral. I loved his sustained notes.. they simply soared.

• My Choice: Jamar- for being raw and passionate
• CeeLo's Choice: Jamar- power and emotional delivery

If we were to learn anything from tonight's battle round performances, its that power will only get you so far. As singers, we must be able to emotionally connect through our songs to convey a captivating message and tell a story. Getting out of our heads and tapping into our hearts is the key to enticing those who are listening to us. 

Don't be afraid to be vulnerable!

Looking forward to next week's episode!

Disney's American Idol Experience

If you are ever curious as to how one would be able to audition for The American Idol Experience and be a part of this great attraction, here is a cool video that explains the process:



Hope you can come visit one day! =)

American Idol Season 11 - Goodbye Jeremy Rosado

Last night was the first elimination round of American Idol Season 11's Top 13 Finalists. Each singer was given critiques of their performances from the night before and special guest performances were made by mentor Mary J. Blige and last year's runner-up Lauren Alaina. The results were somewhat predictable as both the boy and the girl with the lowest number of votes were Elise Testone and Jeremy Rosado. The judges had to decide which singer was going to be the first finalist to go home.

It was a difficult decision but America said goodbye to Jeremy Rosado for the last time. The results were announced by J.Lo who had saved Jeremy the week before.

I knew Jeremy was in trouble. Despite his strong vocal chops, his last performance failed to stand out among this season's strong talent. The competition is the most difficult it has ever been.

This boy is very talented and I believe great things are headed his way! Jeremy, you will be missed!

American Idol Season 11: Top 13 Finalists Compete

Last night we watched American Idol Season 11's Top 13 Finalists compete against each other. The girls paid tribute to Whitney Houston and the boys rocked out to Stevie Wonder. Special guests were Jimmy and Mary J. Blige. With the exception of a couple performances, the shows were solid. Here's my take on each performance:

1- Joshua Ledet - It's never easy being the first performance of the night, but he killed it with a wonderfully styled and controlled "I Wish." His time feel was spot on---passionately delivering every phrase right in the pocket. Great job over all!

2- Elise Testone - I've never been crazy about her and this performance only justified that. Her voice is thick, soulful and passionate. However, her rendition of "I'm Your Baby Tonight" was literally rough sounding. There was no holding back, no emotional connection and no finesse. Her voice is amazing but she lacked the tenderness that you need when you are singing a love song. 

3- Jermaine Jones - This dude has an amazing velvety chocolatey tone quality to his voice. However, his rendition of "Knocks Me Off My Feet" was simply boring. He was a little pitchy during some of the runs in the middle of the song and he failed to capture me during his moment. 

4- Erika Van Pelt - Her vocals captured me the second she began "I Believe In You In Me." Sultry alto vocals led up to a beautiful mix in the middle register. She eloquently build up to the chorus with finesse. Her performance is a perfect example of how to balance power and grace. Solid, Solid Solid. 

5- Colton Dixon - This boy is starting to grow on me. He has such a true rocker sound. He did an amazing job recreating "Lately." His performance was genuine, unique and absolutely on point. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to hearing more from this kid.

6- Shannon Magrane - Poor girl. She might be going home this week. Her rendition of "I Have Nothing" was shakey all around. Pitch problems and lack of control basically swallowed her. This 16-year-old has great talent and potential but last night her nerves got the best of her and her song choice became bigger than her. 

7- DeAndre Brackensick - This kid is starting to grow on me. He is a naive talent with so much potential. His performance of "Master Blaster" showcased great personality and rhythmic prowess. It was refreshing to hear him sing more in his chest voice. He did very well.

8- Skylar Laine - This little pistol did a wonderful job adapting to this week's theme with her rendition of "Where Do Broken Hearts Go." Her voice is still young and needs time to develop but she has the makings of a star. Her vocal delivery and stage presence speak volumes for her age.

9- Heejun Han - Another beautiful voice that puts me to sleep.. but not in a good way. His version of "All In Love is Fair" was tender and vulnerable. He did a wonderful job conveying the emotion in the story of the song. However, he was a little pitchy and failed to capture me as well in his moment.

10- Hollie Cavanagh - This little girl is surprisingly solid and extremely polished. Such a powerful vocal on "All The Man That I Need." She has a great future ahead of her. I can see her having an amazing career in the contemporary Broadway circuit. I'm a fan.

11- Jeremy Rosado - I'm a huge fan of this guy's voice. He needs to be signed whether or not he wins this thing. His version of "Ribbon In The Sky" just needed a little bit more control--it was almost there. I am looking forward to hearing more from him. He's gonna need to rock out an uptempo soon. 

12- Jessica Sanchez - Flawless. This girl has been driving me crazy lately. I was a little afraid of her song choice, but her performance of "I Will Always Love You" was absolutely ridiculous. Her talent is truly a gift from God. Perfect from start to finish!

13- Phillip Phillips - He's very good to look at so I believe America will keep him in this competition, but honestly, he is not the best singer in this competition. I love his style but vocally, he pushed and screamed a little bit too much on "Superstition." I didn't love his performance last night.

So these are my thoughts on last night's performance. Tonight the results will be announced and the judges will need to decide who gets to stay between the lowest girl and lowest boy. I predict Elise, Shannon and Jermaine are in trouble. Judges will most likely choose a female to go home. What do you think?!